Plan your weekend and don’t miss a beat!
The countdown is on for the 48th Annual Telluride Jazz Festival—and trust us, you’re not going to want to miss a beat. From show-stopping performances to unforgettable late-night jams, this weekend is packed with music, magic, and moments you’ll be talking about for years. But that’s just the beginning. Telluride’s charming streets are lined with top-notch restaurants, unique shops, and endless opportunities for adventure in the great outdoors. To help you soak it all in like a seasoned pro, we’ve put together the ultimate Insider’s Guide—full of hot tips, hidden gems, and everything you need to turn an epic weekend into a legendary one. Check it out below and start planning your perfect festival experience!
Packing
Historic Average Temperatures: Low 41 High: 73
Summer in Telluride is stunning, with wildflowers, alpine views, and ever-changing mountain weather—sunshine, rain, and everything in between are all possible in August. Sunny skies can be expected, but seasoned festivalgoers know to come prepared. Days may be warm and perfect for shorts and sandals, but UV levels are high and the dry air means sunscreen and refillable water bottles are a must. Evenings bring dramatic temperature drops—sometimes over 20 degrees—so insulating layers, waterproof gear, wool socks, and waterproof boots are highly recommended. Sunsets around 8:20 pm can be breathtaking, and hats, long underwear, or a cozy sweatshirt from the merch booth can keep you comfortable through the evening chill.
Packing List:
Valid photo ID
Sunscreen/Hat
Lawn chairs (no high-back lawn chairs are permitted between the sound booth and the stage). Or skip the packing and rent a low-back chair! Reserve in advance and pick them up near the main gate entrance. Rentals are available for only $50 for the entire weekend → click here
Tarps/Blankets (no bigger than 20' X 20'). Please share your tarp when you're not using it.
Sunshade tents are only permitted on the back perimeter of festival grounds) in shade alley.
Coolers with unopened plastic bottles and cans (no alcohol) and unopened food items are allowed (coolers will be subject to search).
Camera (no professional photo equipment allowed)
Strollers are allowed
Warm clothes (August can be chilly in Telluride), dress appropriately.
Rain gear (festival goes on rain or shine)
Getting Here, Parking & Getting Around Telluride
Telluride is located 8,750 feet high in the beautiful San Juan Mountains! Travel by car on scenic mountain roads or fly in to one of my regional airports to enjoy the festival. Colorado drivers can find current road conditions by visiting the CO Department of Transportation's website, click here.
We encourage attendees to arrive, park and use our free transportation system to get around town. Our parking staff will help direct you into a spot for the weekend. After that, our free Galloping Goose bus system, along with the scenic gondola between Telluride and Mountain Village and other custom options make getting around town a breeze. The after-hours venues, bars, restaurants and shops are located within a quick stroll from the festival grounds.
There's plenty of free parking available in the town of Telluride and Mountain Village. We do not have a specific parking lot for the Festival. You are free to park wherever there's a legal parking spot in Telluride or Mountain Village.
parking
Main Street and its adjacent side streets host paid parking (meters). Paid parking is enforced from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm from Monday through Saturday. Sundays are excluded from parking enforcement. If you decide to park in the metered parking areas, you can purchase a receipt for up to three hours of parking at a rate of fifty cents per hour. For more information about Telluride parking visit The Town of Telluride's website.
Tickets & Wristbands
Please visit the Box Office to exchange your tickets for wristbands (required for entrance). The Festival Box Office is located at 300 E Pacific Street next to the Telluride Post Office. The Box Office is open during the week of the Festival, and the hours of operation are listed below:
Friday: 12:00 pm - 8:15 pm
Saturday: 12:00 pm - 8:15 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm - 8:15 pm
Exclusive Lodging Discounts + Camping Guide
A trip to the Telluride Jazz Festival is not your average festival trip! The town is an unparalleled destination with plenty of boutique shops, restaurants, historic relics and playful outdoors. Planning for the trip of a lifetime can be easy with our lodging and camping options. From scenic camping luxurious hotels, spacious condos, spas and pools, there's something for everyone!
Jazz After Dark
Friday and Saturday
Patron doors open at 9:30 pm
General Admission doors open at 9:45 pm
Shows start at 10 pm
On Friday and Saturday nights, after the festival ends in Town Park, we continue the music with “Jazz After Dark” shows located in various venues throughout Telluride. One pass allows entry into three different shows.
Friday, August 8, 2025
Cimafunk - Sheridan Opera House
BALTHVS - The Moon At O'Bannon's
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression - Telluride Elks Lodge
Saturday, August 9, 2025
BTTRFLY Quintet - Sheridan Opera House
Parlor Greens - The Moon At O'Bannon's
End All Quintet - Telluride Elks Lodge
Jazz After Dark passes allow access to all venues for the night purchased. Be aware, Jazz After Dark passes do not guarantee entry to the show, all venues are first come, first served and based on the capacity of each venue. As they fill up, we direct you to whichever Jazz After Dark venues are not full. As the night goes on, crowds at the Jazz After Dark tend to rotate, so even if you can't catch the start of the band you want to see, there's a good chance you can catch the last half of their show. So, if there is one particular band you really want to see, get in line early for the show! After the shows begin, entry is dependent on capacity.
The Patron Pass includes entry into all Jazz After Dark Shows and priority early entry.
First Note Yoga Sessions
Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 am (Elks Park)
Guided by professional instructor Annika Kristiansen, enjoy a smooth yoga flow at the free “First Note” Yoga Sessions. Learn activating breath techniques, liberating movements and playful exercises in the crisp mountain morning air. Nestled in the cozy amphitheater of Elks Park in downtown Telluride, the yoga sessions are a fun and inspiring way to start your mornings.
Guests of all skill levels are welcome to join. New to yoga or considering for the first time? Join us and discover the healing power of yoga.
Location: Telluride Elks Park - Colorado Ave and S Oak St (inclement weather location - Sheridan Opera House)
Time: 8:30 - 9:30 am on Saturday and Sunday of the Festival
What to Bring: Water, yoga mat, towel and active wear (come with or without - these items are not mandatory to join in the class)
Historical Walking Tour
Saturday, August 10
Tour 1 at 9:00 AM
Tour 2 at 10:45 AM
Discover the past with Saturday morning's Historical Walking Tour presented by the Telluride Historical Museum. Presenter and long-time resident Ashley Boling will guide visitors through Telluride’s storied past and celebrated landmarks. This tour is sold out, ticket holders can meet at 9 am in front of the Courthouse, across from Elks Park on Colorado Ave (Telluride’s Main Street).
All festival pass holders receive free admission to the Telluride Historical Museum throughout the event. Festival attendees will have the chance to visit the museum and learn about the region's rich Ute Native American heritage, mining, ski and festival history. Show your festival wristband for museum entry. The Museum is located at 201 W Gregory Ave.
New Orleans 2nd Line Parade
Sunday at 12:30 pm (Main Street)
Second Line Parades are a New Orleans tradition. Brass-bands take to the street, play and march. Onlookers who followed along to enjoy the music were known as the second line.
Join the New Breed Brass Band and Hooligans Brass Band along with Festival staff, attendees, and festival artists for a Second Line Parade down Main Street all the way to Telluride Town Park on Sunday, August 13.
Everyone is welcome! Colorful floats, costumes, beads and decorations are all welcome as attendees join in on the march through town.
The parade starts at 12:30 pm from Elks Park.
Kids Activities
Not just for adults, kids of all ages can enjoy the Telluride Jazz Festival! With student performances, a kids area and interactive activities in laid-back atmosphere, the Festival is a perfect event for families.
Living Folklore will have stilt-walkers and giant puppets to add ambiance to the festival experience! Be sure to get your picture taken with these magnificent creations under the backdrop of the Telluride Mountains as they periodically stroll the festival grounds throughout the weekend.
Arts, Crafts & Costume Making
Sunday August 10 from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Leading up to the Parade on Main Street, the Wilkinson Public Library will host a complimentary kids program from 11:00 am - 12 pm, with costume-making and face painting. All materials are provided for attending families.
Upgrade to the Patron Experience
Belly up to the bars and discover a large offering of beer, wine and cocktails on tap throughout the festival.
Patron Experience pass-holders will be treated to an open bar featuring a menu of specialty craft cocktails!
Patron Cocktail menu
Triple J
Severo Tequila, Grapefruit, Elderflower, Lime
KEXP
Nikka Vodka, Cucumber, Lemon, Mint
KOTO
Hirsch Whiskey, Lime, Bitters, Ginger Beer
BLOODY MARY BAR (SUNDAY Only FROM 12:30-2:30 PM)
Nikka Vodka or Severo Tequila, Freshies Mix, Horseradish, Pickled Vegetables, Spices
Patron Backstage Dining
Prepare yourself for a mouth watering culinary experience! Renowned Telluride Chef Will Nolan has curated a top-tier food experience for Patron pass-holders. As a well-known name in the local restaurant scene, Nolan is poised to offer superior cuisine to patron pass-holders. The result is sure to be a dining experience unlike any other, with quality ingredients, expert preparation, and a chef-driven focus on healthy and flavorful food. The Patron experience is nothing short of exceptional. Trust us, this is exclusive world class luxury that you don’t want to miss!
Food At The Festival
The food lineup at the 2025 Telluride Jazz Festival features standout culinary talent and extraordinary beverages against a stunning mountain backdrop. Go south of the border with Tex-Mex wraps, take a trip to the Mediterranean with healthy Greek salads, or enjoy some fried chicken from down South. These menus will keep your taste buds satisfied all weekend long. Explore the vendors and prepare for an incredible weekend of fun in the mountains!
Explore like a Local
Hands down, Telluride is one of the best towns in the world for outdoor recreation! With towering 13,000 foot Rocky Mountain peaks and 160,000 acres of pristine wilderness with trail systems, waterfalls and more all surrounded by alpine mountain views. There are endless adventures for novices to pros alike. Click here to explore the local and regional opportunities for hiking, biking, stand-up paddleboarding, fly fishing, horseback riding, shopping and more!
Hiking - If you’re up for adventure, there are plenty of beautiful hikes starting directly from downtown Telluride to explore: Bear Creek Trail is less than one block from Town Park (S. Pine Street) and is a perfect beginner trail up to a waterfall.
If you seek a more challenging hike, check out the Jud Wiebe Trail (N. Aspen Street) which takes you to a gorgeous overlook of the entire town.
Mountain Biking - Miles of mountain bike trails span the Telluride box cannon. Beginners should start with the Valley Floor Trail.
Experienced bikers might consider the Prospect Trail Loop off of the Telluride Mountain Village Gondola.
Scenic Off-Road Drives - Many scenic paved and backcountry roads weave through the peaks and valleys of Telluride. For those without a four-wheel drive car, HWY 145 South towards Dolores offers stunning views of the Telluride Valley, Wilson Mesa and Lizard Head Pass.
Those with a four-wheel drive, high clearance cars can consider a trip to Bridal Veil Falls.
Ride the Gondola - The only FREE transportation of its kind in the country, Telluride’s Gondola is a must-do while visiting during the week. If you don’t journey up to the free concert on Thursday night, make sure you take the time to check out this spectacular ride. Get out up top (Station San Sophia) to hike around or ride the Gondola down into Mountain Village to check out the local bars, shops and restaurants. The Gondola starts running each day at 6:30 am and goes until midnight on Thursday, 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday, and midnight on Sunday of the Festival weekend.
Paddleboarding - Located 27 minutes South of Telluride, Trout Lake offers stunning paddleboarding with beautiful alpine views. Paddleboards can be rented locally at different outdoors shops.
Fly-Fishing - Telluride is an angler’s paradise. Alpine lakes, creeks and rivers are frequent throughout the Telluride region. For more information about fly-fishing click here.
For more information about hiking, diving, paddleboarding, fly-fishing and biking in Telluride’s visitor guide.